'Sustainable use of natural resources must for economic development'

GUWAHATI: Chief minister TarunGogoi's investment adviser, RanjitBarthakur, said that the economic future of the state depends on proper management of land, air, energy, water and waste. "The only way forward for the government to ensure sustainable management of land, air, energy, water and waste is through transparent and globally competent public-private participation," Barthakur said here on Friday.

Although the state government has not yet come out with a comprehensive roadmap for sustained use of natural resources, Barthakur said that in recent years it has been putting emphasis on this as the road ahead for the state's economic future.

"People like Jadav Payeng of Jorhat, Arindam Dasgupta of Barpeta and many others have amply demonstrated through their work how ecology and economy can be managed in sustainable ways. The government can replicate such work in other parts of the state. In fact, we have many things to learn from these people," he observed.

Barthakur, who is also the founder of the NGO Balipara Tract and Frontier Foundation (BTFF), pointed out that for sustainable use of natural resources, it is imperative to ensure that the building sector, heavy industries, agriculture sector, food and hospitality sector and transportation sector follow the "green" principles rather than allowing them to become the cause of pollution and loss of biodiversity.

"The building sector is booming. So, there is a need to implement the concept of green buildings. At the same time, heavy industries should not be allowed to be the agent of pollution for the sake of industrialization. The agriculture sector should focus more on organic cultivation. The green concept should equally be implemented in the food, hospitality and transportation sectors," Barthakur said.